Million-dollar theft lands Sugar Land woman in prison

A Fort Bend County jury has sentenced a Sugar Land woman to a total of 65 years in prison for stealing more than $1 million from a family-owned business over nine years.

Terry Smith, 58, also was fined $30,000 following her conviction last week for theft, money laundering and misapplication of fiduciary property, according to the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office.

Smith was sentenced to 25 years for theft and 20 years each for money laundering and misapplication of fiduciary property. The sentences will run concurrently. She was also fined $10,000 in each case.

Prosecutors said Smith worked as comptroller at Flexicore of Texas, and handled all of the company's accounts for more than 30 years. From 1999 and 2008, she stole about $1.3 million through various schemes.

"This case was about greed, plain and simple," prosecutor Rodolfo Ramirez said in a news release. "The company had given the defendant so much over the years, but she couldn't steal enough to keep up with her spending."

Prosecutors said Smith was hired at age 21, and over the years gained the trust of Flexicore's founders until she had total access to the finances. During her final three years there, she earned more than $100,000, with paid medical insurance and a 401(k) plan, trial testimony showed. Flexicore also funded her college education.

Smith's attorney, Robert Scardino, called the sentence excessive, saying she reimbursed the company $555,400 of the missing funds.

"The punishment was too harsh for the circumstances," Scardino said. "The jury was too hard on her, frankly. I can't complain that we didn't get a fair trial. I just believe that the jury saw it more from the prosecution's (side), instead of our side."